Cane base

Abstract

A cane having a base formed from a cup-shaped support having a concave bottom surface and a top surface defined by a circumscribing exterior sidewall having a bottom edge. The concave bottom surface is formed to have a plurality of resilient projections extending therefrom a distance to project slightly beyond the bottom edge of the sidewall. The projections are formed in a spoke-like pattern on the bottom surface such that the density of the projections is greater near the central section of the bottom surface than at the periphery of the bottom surface. The projections are also formed to have a length that varies according to their position on the bottom surface so that a substantially planar contacting edge is presented to a support surface.

1. A base for supporting a cane on a supporting surface, comprising:
 a support post having a first and second end,  
 a handle formed on the first end of the support post,  
 a support having a concave bottom surface, a top surface, and an exterior sidewall having a bottom edge adjacent the bottom surface;  
 a receiving member on the top surface configured to receive the cane;  
 a plurality of gussets formed on the top surface of the support and connected to the receiving member; and  
 a plurality of resilient projections formed on the bottom surface of the support and having a length to extend beyond the bottom edge of the sidewall which prevents the bottom edge from forming a suction seal against the supporting surface, the projections formed to have a higher density of projections in a central section of the bottom surface than at a peripheral portion adjacent to the bottom edge of the sidewall.  
 
   
   
     2. The base of  claim 1  wherein the projections have a circular cross-sectional configuration. 
   
   
     3. The base of  claim 2  wherein the projections near the central section of the support have a thicker diameter than a diameter of the remaining projections. 
   
   
     4. The base of  claim 1  wherein the projections are formed in a pattern of radially-projecting spokes on the bottom surface of the support. 
   
   
     5. The base of  claim 4  wherein each spoke of projections comprises projections near the center of the support having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of projections near the sidewall. 
   
   
     6. The base of  claim 1  wherein the support has a diameter in the range of 3 inches to 3½ inches. 
   
   
     7. A cane for use on a supporting surface, comprising:
 a support post having first and second ends;  
 a handle mounted on the first end of the support post; and  
 a base mounted on the second end of the support post, the base comprising: 
 a support having a concave bottom surface, a top surface, and an exterior sidewall having a bottom edge adjacent the bottom surface;  
 a receiving member on the top surface configured to receive the cane;  
 a plurality of gussets formed on the top surface of the support and connected to the receiving member; and  
 a plurality of resilient projections formed on the bottom surface of the support and having a length to extend beyond the bottom edge of the sidewall which prevents the bottom edge from sealing against the supporting surface, the projections formed to have a higher density of projections in a central section of the bottom surface than at a peripheral portion adjacent to the bottom edge of the sidewall.  
 
 
   
   
     8. The base of  claim 7  wherein the projections have a circular cross-sectional configuration. 
   
   
     9. The base of  claim 8  wherein the projections near the central section of the support have a thicker diameter than a diameter of the remaining projections. 
   
   
     10. The base of  claim 7  wherein the projections are formed in a pattern of radial spokes on the bottom surface of the support. 
   
   
     11. The base of  claim 10  wherein each radial spoke of projections comprises projections near the center of the support having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of projections near the sidewall. 
   
   
     12. The base of  claim 7  wherein the support has a diameter in the range of 3 inches to 3½ inches.